Records of United States Army Continental Commands, 1920-1942
(Record Group 394)
1871-1945 (bulk 1920-42)
Table of Contents
- 394.1 Administrative History
- 394.2 Records of Corps Areas I-IX
1890-1945 (bulk 1920-42)
- 394.2.1 Records of I Corps Area including predecessor Northeastern Department
- 394.2.2 Records of II Corps Area including predecessor Eastern Department
- 394.2.3 Records of III Corps Area
- 394.2.4 Records of IV Corps Area including predecessor Southeastern Department
- 394.2.5 Records of V Corps Area
- 394.2.6 Records of VI Corps Area including predecessor Central Department
- 394.2.7 Records of VII Corps Area
- 394.2.8 Records of VIII Corps Area including predecessor Southern Department
- 394.2.9 Records of IX Corps Area including predecessor Western Department
- 394.3 Records of the District of Washington 1921-40
- 394.4 Records of Field Installations 1871-1942 (bulk 1917-42)
- 394.5 Cartographic Records (General)
1922-42
120 items - 394.6 Still Pictures (General)
Finding Aids: Preliminary inventory in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.
Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.
Related Records:
Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1784-1821, RG 98.
Records of U.S. Army Coast Artillery Districts and Defenses,
1901-1942, RG 392.
Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920, RG 393.
Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1942- , RG 338.
394.2 Records of Corps Areas I-IX
1890-1945 (bulk 1920-42)
History: Nine corps areas established under the U.S. Army Chief of Staff by General Order 50, War Department, August 20, 1920, for administration, training, and tactical control of the army, replacing the six geographical (or territorial) military departments into which the continental United States had been divided since 1917. Tactical command functions transferred to General Headquarters, U.S. Army, by War Department letter AG 320.2 (9-27-40), October 3, 1940. Corps areas assigned to the Services of Supply, effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, implementing the reorganization of the army mandated by EO 9082, February 28, 1942. Designated service commands by General Order 35, War Department, July 22, 1942.
394.2.1 Records of I Corps Area including predecessor Northeastern Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1917-42. Correspondence relating to the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and to the Organized Reserve Corps, 1920-38. Records of the I Corps, First Army maneuvers, 1939. Harbor Defense Board mobilization plans and reports, 1930-39. Issuances, 1920-39. Mobilization plans and related records, 1927-39. Records of the Engineer, 1914-39; Inspector, 1918-39; National Guard Officer, 1929-39; Quartermaster, 1924-34; and Surgeon, 1920-30. Issuances of the 1st Military Reserve Area, 1937-39.
394.2.2 Records of II Corps Area including predecessor Eastern
Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-42. Maneuver correspondence, 1st Army, 1939. Command post exercise reports, 3d and 4th Armies, 1936-37. Issuances, 1920-39. Personal papers of Maj. Gen. Dennis E. Nolan, Commanding General, 1931-36. Protective mobilization plans, 1939-40. G-3 Division (Operations and Training) mobilization plans, 1924-38. General correspondence of the Engineer, 1917-42, and the Fortification Section, 1930-42. Correspondence of district engineer officers relating to harbor defenses of Sandy Hook, NJ, 1921-39, and eastern and southern NY, 1930-42. Correspondence and other records of the Chemical Warfare Officer, 1930-41; Inspector, 1935-41; Ordnance Officer, 1936-39; Quartermaster, 1929-41; Signal Officer, 1928; and Surgeon, 1920- 30. Correspondence of 1st Army, relating primarily to maneuvers, 1933-41. General correspondence, 1st and 3d Military Areas, 1934- 42. Issuances, 4th Military Reserve Area, 1938-39.
394.2.3 Records of III Corps Area
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-39 (425 ft.). Correspondence relating to military posts and camps, the National Guard, corps areas, Citizens Military Training Camps (CMTC), organized reserves, recruiting, and the ROTC, 1925-41; and the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1935-36. Correspondence of the CMTC Officer, 1922-40; and Quartermaster, 1923-39.
Photographic Prints (309 images): Buildings and posts in the III Corps Area, ca. 1936 (BP). SEE ALSO 394.6.
394.2.4 Records of IV Corps Area including predecessor
Southeastern Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1919-42. Correspondence relating to mobilization plans, 1920-39. Issuances, 1920-40. Records relating to 3d Army maneuvers, 1934-38. Records of GA and SC forts, 1916-40. Lists of draft dodgers for AL, FL, LA, NC, and TN, 1921-25. Intelligence summaries of G-2 Division (Military Intelligence), 1927-37. Correspondence and other records of the Organized Reserve Officer, 1920-25; Quartermaster, 1918-40; Recruiting Officer, 1918-40; and Surgeon, 1920-30.
394.2.5 Records of V Corps Area
Textual Records: Correspondence, 1920-42. Historical reports, 1921-32. Issuances, 1920-39. Correspondence of the Quartermaster, 1918-42.
394.2.6 Records of VI Corps Area including predecessor Central
Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1916-39 (611 ft.). Correspondence relating to mobilization plans, 1920-40. Maneuver reports, 1936, and tactical exercise correspondence, 1933, of the 2d Army. Issuances, 1920-42. Lists of draft dodgers for WI, MI, and IL, 1917-22. Mobilization planning files of the Chemical Warfare Officer, 1920-42. Records of the Quartermaster, including general correspondence, 1920-39; correspondence relating to 1st and 2d Army maneuvers, 1933-41; specifications for buildings at Fort Sheridan, IL, 1890-1931; and records, with interfiled photographs, relating to buildings at Fort Wayne, MI, 1905-42. Records of the Inspector, 1937-38; Signal Officer, 1936-41; and Surgeon, 1920-30. Correspondence and issuances of the Illinois Military Reserve Area, 1934-40.
Lantern Slides (123 images): Mobilization tests in the VI Corps Area, 1933-38 (M). SEE ALSO 394.6.
394.2.7 Records of VII Corps Area
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-41. Records relating to National Defense Test Day, 1924. ROTC histories, 1920-44. Final reports of CMTC, 1922-39, and ROTC camps, 1929-41. Maneuver reports, 2d Army, 1936, and 4th Army, 1937-41. Issuances, 1920-39. General correspondence of the Engineer, 1928- 42; and Engineer's correspondence relating to the VII Corps Area maneuvers, 1940. General and real estate correspondence of the Quartermaster, 1920-41; and records, with interfiled photographs, relating to buildings at Fort Des Moines, IA, 1905-41. Records of the Surgeon, 1920-39; and Inspector, 1937. Issuances, 2d Reserve Area, 1937-39.
394.2.8 Records of VIII Corps Area including predecessor Southern
Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-41. Maneuver correspondence, 3d Army, 1924-40. Issuances, 1920-39. Special instructions, plans, and reports of border commands relating to disturbances in Mexico, 1929. Records relating to the Texas Centennial Exposition, 1936. General correspondence and other records of the Air Officer, 1924-39; Engineer, 1916-40; and Inspector, 1920-42. Records of the Quartermaster, including lease renewal correspondence, 1917-22; real estate correspondence, 1920-37; Construction Division correspondence, 1921-42; Works Progress Administration project correspondence, 1930-41; and historical reports relating to post planning, 1905-41. General correspondence of the Deputy Chief of Staff, 3d Army, relating to maneuvers, 1938-40.
394.2.9 Records of IX Corps Area including predecessor Western Department
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1916-43. Correspondence relating to coastal defense, 1920-39; harbor defense, 1922-40; draft dodgers, 1921-30; and 4th Army maneuvers, 1929-40. Issuances, 1920-40. Columbia River and Puget Sound harbor defense histories, 1945. General correspondence of the Air Officer, 1917- 45, and the Engineer, 1930-41. General correspondence, 1921-35, and inspection and survey reports, 1928-29, of the Inspector. Records of the Quartermaster, including correspondence of the Construction Division, 1916-45; and historical reports relating to post planning, 1899-1945. Records of 4th Army, including headquarters general correspondence, 1932-40; mobilization planning correspondence, 1933-39; records relating to G-3 organization and planning for coastal defenses on the Pacific Coast, 1912-40; and records relating to maneuvers and other joint exercises, 1935-40. Issuances of the 1st-3d Reserve Areas, 1930- 39.
394.3 Records of the District of Washington
1921-40
History: Washington, DC, and surrounding area separated from III Corps Area and reconstituted as District of Washington by paragraph 164, Special Orders 191-0, War Department, August 8, 1921. Reverted to III Corps Area by General Order 1, War Department, September 1, 1927. Abolished November 12, 1927. Certain functions and records continued by 16th Brigade and later by Washington Provisional Brigade.
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1921-27, with subject indexes. Issuances, 1921-27.
394.3.2 Records of the Washington Provisional Brigade
Textual Records: Correspondence relating to ceremonials, 1925-39. Report of operations against the Bonus Marchers, 1932. Issuances, 1936-37. History of Headquarters Company, 1922-40. General decimal files, 1928-42. Journal file, 1941-42. General orders, 1941.
394.4 Records of Field Installations
1871-1942 (bulk 1917-42)
Textual Records: Correspondence, issuances, messages, morning reports, post diaries, court-martial orders, activity reports, and other records of Camp Anchorage, AK, 1919-26; Fort Brady, MI, 1921-41; Fort Bragg, NC, 1919-39; Fort Brown, TX, 1919-42 (75 ft.); Chilkoot Barracks, AK, 1923-40; Fort Clark, TX, 1871-1942; Fort Custer, MI, 1917-37 (53 ft.); Fort D.A. Russell, TX, 1920- 32; Camp Dix, NJ, 1920-39 (15 ft.); Fort Douglas, UT, 1919-39; Fort Ethan Allen, VT, 1920-39; Fort Eustis, VA, 1921-39; Fort Francis E. Warren, WY, 1923-39; Camp Furlong, NM, 1919-24; Fort Hamilton, NY, 1923-39; Camp Harry J. Jones, AZ, 1918-32; Fort Howard, MD, 1918-37; Fort Huachuca, AZ, 1919-41; Fort Liscum, AK, 1919-22; Fort McDowell, CA, 1920-41 (18 ft.); Madison Barracks, NY, 1923-40; Presidio of Monterey, CA, 1925-40; Fort Morgan, AL, 1920-23; Fort Oglethorpe, GA, 1920-39; Fort Saint Michael, AK, 1920-22; Presidio of San Francisco, CA, 1920-39; Fort Sheridan, IL, 1920-39 (68 ft.); Fort Slocum, NY, 1923-41 (10 ft.); Fort Snelling, MN, 1920-39; Fort Stephen D. Little, AZ, 1920-32 (21 ft.); Fort Thomas, KY, 1924-40; Camp Travis, TX, 1920-22; Vancouver Barracks, WA, 1918-40; and Fort Wayne, MI, 1919-40 (20 ft.).
Photographic Prints (336 images): CMTC activities, Fort Meade, MD, 1925 (CM, 215 images); and Fortress Monroe, VA, 1933 (T, 33 images). Activities at Camp Stephen F. Austin, TX, and ceremonies at the Texas Centennial Exposition, Dallas, TX, in album, 1936 (SA, 88 images). SEE ALSO 394.6.
394.5 Cartographic Records (General)
1922-42
120 items
Maps: Published maps compiled by the various corps areas, showing military activities, maneuver grounds, and plans of forts in each area, and including, for the VIII Corps Area, maps of Mexico and the Mexican border, 1922-42.
394.6 Still Pictures (General)
SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 394.2.3 and 394.4.
SEE Lantern Slides UNDER 394.2.6.
Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.
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